Whistle-buoy.



Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

120., WASHINGTON. D. c.

W. A. HEYER.

WHISTLE BUOY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. a. 1913.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH ATNT @FFllQE.

WILLIAM A. HEYER, OIE MILVJAUKEE, WISCDNSIN.

WHISTLE-RUDY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. as, rare.

Application filed November 3, 1913. Serial No. 798,925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM A. HEYER, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inhistle-Buoys; and I do hereby declare that the following is-a full,clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention consists in what is herein particularly set forth withreference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim ofthis specification, its object being to provide simple, economical andefficient automatic whistling-buoys especially designed for connectionwith fish-nct anchors to audibly signal the location of the nets infoggy weather, although similarly constructed buoys of suitabledimensions may be employed as channel-indicators or for other maritimepurposes.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a partly sectional elevation of ananchored whistling-buoy and drag-attachment there with in accordancewith my invention; Fig. 2, a sectional view of the float of thebuoyindicated by line 22 in the next described illustration; Fig. 3, ahorizontal sectional view of said float indicated by line 33 in Fig. 2,and Fig. 4, a partly sectional view of a preferred form of the whistleand checkvalve detail of the buoy.

Referring by numerals to the drawings 5 indicates a float of ordinarydimensions and contour having a plurality of longitudinal bores 6arranged in a circle whose center is the axis of said float and theupperends of the bores are suitably stoppered.

It is preferable, as herein shown, to Provide the float-bores with upperbushings 7 made air-tight at their outer extremities by caps or plugs 8.Set tight in an upper central longitudinal recess of the float is aremovable shell 9 that serves as a socket in which to rigidly step alight hollow staff 10 stayed by braces 10 connecting a collar thereofwith eyes 5 with which the float 5 is pro vided. Registering openings inthe shell and staff register with ports 11 open to the float-boresaforesaid, and in slip-fit on the upper end of said staff is a centrallybored head 12 of preferably conical exterior. Upwardly divergent fromthe head-bore is a countersunk port 13, and screw-threaded or otherwisefast in the countersink of the port is a whistle 14. Similarly securedin the upper end of the head-bore, open to the port 13, is the shank 15of asection 15 of a separable check-valve casing, its other section 16being provided with a dome-extension 16 having air-passages 17 therein,A hollow central and upwardly projecting boss 18 fitted in the center ofthe valve-casing section 15 is provided with air-passages 19, and guidedin the head of said boss and the dome of the other valve-casing section16 is the stem 20 of a disk-valve 21, which valve seats to cut-off saiddome. Under compression between the disk valve 21 and the valve-casingsection 15 is a spring 22. Hence unseating of said valve is against theresistance of the spring. The shank 15 of the casing may be open to aplurality of ports 13 in the head 12 as is indicated in Fig. 1, and awhistle may be arranged in communication with each head-port.

The valve-casing, springcontrolled valve proper and its stem abovespecified combine to form a check-valve construction well adapted to mypurpose, but some other construction of check-valve may be foundsatisfactory, and a flag or pennant may be employed in connection withthe aforesaid stafl as is herein shown.

Fast in the lower end of the float 5 central of the same is a rod 23that aids to maintain said float upright in the water, and the lower endof the rod is bent to form an eye 23 for a ring 24: in connection with aline 25 of any suitable length, this line serving in conjunction withsaid rod to counterbalance said float with reference to its propersubmergence and vertical position. The other end of the line is inconnection with a ring 26 that is also connected to a chain 27 of anysuitable length leading from another ring 28 coupled to a series ofshort chains 29 fastened at their lower ends in connection with the rimof a dished conical drag 30, and by means of a line 31 or other suitableflexible device of any suitable length, the drag is connected to ananchor 32 that may also be employed in connection with a fishnet.

In practice. the submergence of the float of the buoy is sufficient tobring the lower ends of the bushings in its bores a predetermineddistance below the surface of the water. and in case of the cracking ofsaid float above the water level each of said bushings will serve toprevent an esca e of air through an adjacent crack. Coincident with thewave action there is a rise of water in the float-bores and acompression of confined air in said float and the staff therewith tosound the whistle or whistlesof the buoy. Upon recedence of water in thefloat there is an automatic unseating of the check valve to permit of asudden influx of air to the stafi" and said float. Following a more thanordinary submergence of the float, due to a rise of water therein, thereis slack of the connections between said float and the drag, inasmuch assaid drag sinks slower than the aforesaid float; Hence when a wavecarries the float upward after it has had opportunity to resume itsnormal position there will be a quick pull of said float against theresistance of the drag to insure a quick unseating of the check-valveagainst spring-resistance, the expansive force of the spring serving toreseat said valve. Thereafter the float and drag rise together but whenopportunity affords, the float falls first, thereby slackening itsconnections with the drag, and the chains 29 falling into said dragweigh the same to hasten its descent and exert a quick pull upon saidfloat,

whereby it is further submerged to effect (lopi esot thi's patent may beobtained for The combination of a longitudinally bored float closed atits upper end, a hollow stafl stepped in the float in communicationwiththe boring of the same, a whistle and check-valve head on the upperend of the staff, the checkvalve being inwardly opening to admit air tothe staff and float,,a conical dished drag, an anchor for the same,

-a series of chains connected to the rim of the drag, and a flexibledevice in connection with all the chains and said float.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand atMilwaukee in the county of Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin in thepresence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. HEYER.

WVitnesses N. E. OLIPHANT, M. E. DOWNEY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. G.

